Liverpool dealt fresh setback as player sustains injury ahead of Champions League showdown with Real Madrid

Liverpool have suffered a new injury setback ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid. The Premier League leaders are set to host the 15-time European champions at Anfield on Wednesday night, followed by a crucial fixture against Manchester City on Sunday.

It has been reported that left-back Kostas Tsimikas will miss the upcoming games after rolling his ankle during training. Paul Joyce of The Times confirmed the news, tweeting: “Kostas Tsimikas facing short spell on sidelines for Liverpool after injuring ankle in training.”

Manager Arne Slot is expected to address the injury situation, including updates on Tsimikas, during a press conference at 3:30 PM. Other players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, and Federico Chiesa have also faced injury issues recently. However, Harvey Elliott made a return to the bench following his recovery from a broken foot that sidelined him for three months.

Tsimikas had already missed Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Southampton due to a reported knock, but the injury now appears more significant. The 28-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Olympiakos in 2020 for £11.75 million, has mostly been a backup for Andy Robertson. This season, he has featured six times in the Premier League, starting twice. With a packed fixture schedule, his absence may add strain to Robertson’s workload.

Liverpool remain in excellent form, leading both the Premier League and the new Champions League table with a perfect record of four wins from four matches. Their only loss in all competitions this season was a surprising 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in September.